Patents by Inventor John Earl Bittner

John Earl Bittner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9385524
    Abstract: An arc flash mitigation system for use with a generator excitation system is provided. An exemplary arc flash mitigation system includes three semiconductor fuses, three current transformers, an overcurrent detection circuit, a gate firing circuit, and three pairs of thyristors respectively arranged in an anti-parallel phase-to-phase configuration. An exemplary method includes detecting an overcurrent and providing a gate signal to each of a plurality of thyristors included in a crowbar circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Clark Rowny, Jr., John Earl Bittner
  • Publication number: 20150098156
    Abstract: An arc flash mitigation system for use with a generator excitation system is provided. An exemplary arc flash mitigation system includes three semiconductor fuses, three current transformers, an overcurrent detection circuit, a gate firing circuit, and three pairs of thyristors respectively arranged in an anti-parallel phase-to-phase configuration. An exemplary method includes detecting an overcurrent and providing a gate signal to each of a plurality of thyristors included in a crowbar circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Clark Rowny, JR., John Earl Bittner
  • Patent number: 7064647
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an air core reactor including a plurality of straight members and a plurality of offset members, the plurality of straight and offset members are interconnected to form an orthogonal spiral having an air core therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Howard Ross Edmunds, Brian Matthew Alken, Andrew Phillip, Christopher McMenamin, Christopher T. Moore, John Earl Bittner, Stephen Daniel Nash, Michael L. Miller
  • Patent number: 6501650
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting electrical devices in a housing at an angle relative to the ground is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing having a top, bottom, and sides, each of which may be open, closed or ventilated. One or more electrical devices are located in the housing and are oriented at an angle relative to the horizontal ground. The electrical devices may be silicon controlled rectifiers that serve as a power bridge between an exciter and a power generator. A method for mounting electrical devices in a housing at an angle relative to the horizontal ground is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Howard Ross Edmunds, John Earl Bittner, Brent Christopher Teal, Thanh Ngoc Nguyen, Brian Matthew Aiken, Christopher James McMenamin, Andrew Gordon Phillip, Christopher Todd Moore, Kyle Craig Stott, Rick Lynn Gintz, Fred Henry Boettner
  • Publication number: 20020141156
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting electrical devices in a housing at an angle relative to the ground is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing having a top, bottom, and sides, each of which may be open, closed or ventilated. One or more electrical devices are located in the housing and are oriented at an angle relative to the horizontal ground. The electrical devices may be silicon controlled rectifiers that serve as a power bridge between an exciter and a power generator. A method for mounting electrical devices in a housing at an angle relative to the horizontal ground is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Howard Ross Edmunds, John Earl Bittner, Brent Christopher Teal, Thanh Ngoc Nguyen, Brian Matthew Aiken, Christopher James McMenamin, Andrew Gordon Phillip, Christopher Todd Moore, Kyle Craig Stott, Rick Lynn Gintz, Fred Henry Boettner
  • Patent number: 6442051
    Abstract: A circuit is provided for use in a synchronous generator excitation system. The circuit comprises a three-phase bridge having six legs. The bridge is connected with an AC power supply. A thyristor is provided in each of the six legs, wherein the thyristors provide a path for a device current. A free wheeling diode functions as a de-excitation means connected in parallel with the three-phase bridge. The free wheeling diode provides a discharge path for a field current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Ryan, Mohammed Kassem Saleh, Rodney Alen Lawson, John Earl Bittner
  • Patent number: 6407918
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a supply of air to cool electrical devices is provided. The apparatus comprises a two fan housings, each containing a number of fans arranged to blow air in a parallel fashion. The exhaust of one housing is connected to the intake of the other housing by a balancing plenum. The apparatus provides a sufficient supply of cooling air when one or more of the fans is inoperable. The device being cooled may be the power bridge of an exciter for a power generation system. A method for providing a supply of air to electrical devices is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Howard Ross Edmunds, John Earl Bittner, Brent Christopher Teal, Thanh Ngoc Nguyen, Brian Matthew Aiken, Christopher James McMenamin, Andrew Gordon Phillip, Christopher Todd Moore, Kyle Craig Stott